Effective Date: May 18, 2026

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The Planning Roundtable (TPR), hosted by the American Planning Association (APA) International Division, is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information when you join the TPR Network, in strict accordance with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and international privacy standards.

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1. Information We Collect

When you apply to join the TPR Network, we collect the information necessary to facilitate professional networking. This includes:

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• Public Profile Information: Your name, credentials, current base of operations, regions of expertise, urban contexts, planning focus, and professional bio.

• Private Contact Information: Your email address.

• Preferences: Your mentorship availability and status (e.g., seeking a mentor, available to mentor).

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2. How We Use Your Data

We process your data exclusively to support the mission of The Planning Roundtable. Your information is used to:

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• Maintain the Member Directory: Your Public Profile Information is displayed in our secure online database so peers can identify shared interests.

• Facilitate Introductions (The "Concierge" Model): To protect your inbox from spam, we never publicly display your email address. If a member wishes to connect with you, they contact a TPR coordinator, who then facilitates an e-introduction via email.

• Coordinate Mentorship: If you opt into the mentorship program, we use your data to identify relevant pairings and reach out to you directly.

• Network Updates: To send you occasional administrative emails regarding your profile or TPR activities.

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3. Legal Basis for Processing
 

Under the GDPR, we process your personal data based entirely on Consent. By voluntarily completing the "Join Us" form, you explicitly consent to the collection and use of your data as outlined in this policy. You have the right to withdraw this consent at any time.

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4. Data Sharing and Third Parties
 

• No Selling or Sharing: We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal information or email address to third parties, marketers, or advertisers.

• Platform Security: Our website and database are hosted on the Wix platform. Wix is fully compliant with strict international data protection standards (including GDPR) and utilizes industry-leading encryption to ensure your data is safely stored.

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5. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as you choose to remain an active member of the TPR Network. If you request to leave the network, your data will be permanently deleted from our active directory and databases.

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6. Your Rights Under GDPR

As a member of the TPR Network, you retain full ownership and control over your data. Under the GDPR, you have the right to:

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• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.

• Right to Rectification: Ask us to update or correct any inaccurate or incomplete profile information.

• Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): Request the complete removal of your profile and personal data from our systems.

• Right to Withdraw Consent: Opt-out of the directory or the mentorship program at any time.

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7. Contact Us
 

If you wish to exercise any of your data rights, update your profile, or have questions regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact our team directly at:

Email: Jing Zhang, FAICP, TPR Manager at jing@planning.community.